Breast pain associated with lactation

Beginning in 2004, the practitioners of Oriental Health Solutions (OHS) have been working in conjunction with the lactation consultants at UNC-Chapel Hill to study the use of acupuncture in treating breast pain associated with lactation. For the purpose of this study, all patients referred to OHS have received western treatment for one month without positive results. Given that the lactation consultants at UNC are among the best in the region, these referrals are generally considered to be the most recalcitrant and difficult-to-treat cases around.

We find that our average results at OHS to date (as of December, 2011) are at 1.8 treatments to completely clear this complaint for the nursing duration of the current baby. We have had one patient drop out of the study who had severe multi-systemic complicating factors, and did not benefit from treatment. Otherwise, everyone has responded positively (n=34). All patients are properly draped during these treatments and no needles are ever inserted into breasts, making this a safe and comfortable treatment process. Most patients experience an improvement in pain and breast tissue softness between the start and end of a single treatment. We look forward to continuing to affirm acupuncture’s utility for lactation pain with this study over the coming years.

Oriental Medicine Treatment Strategies

One of Oriental medicine’s foundational principles emphasizes that every individual is unique. That is, even if two people present with similar complaints, the cause of illness for one person almost certainly differs from that of the other. Therefore every person’s course of treatment must be individually-tailored to suit his/her particular need. This, of course, applies equally to a woman complaining of plugged ducts during lactation.

Acupuncture is the insertion of sterile, thin needles into specific sites on the body. Pain is usually caused by what Chinese medicine calls “stagnation,” therefore, the treatment is aimed toward inserting needles at sites that would open the energy channels and remove energy stagnation. When treating breast pain during lactation, acupuncture opens the corresponding channels, thereby reducing the pain. Often, the pain reduction/elimination is immediate upon insertion of the appropriate needles.

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is a science and art supported by at least 2,000 years of empirical practice. Medical practitioners have prescribed herbs for post-partum complaints for centuries. This form of therapy can be useful for lactating women as well, with unique herbal formulas recommended for specific conditions.

Nutrition is an essential component of good general health, and is an especially important aspect for those with plugged ducts associated with lactation. Understanding a young mother’s and her baby’s dietary and nutritional needs provides the framework for implementing specific, effective dietary changes. The suggested changes usually involve introducing nutritious and delicious foods into the diet. Often, simple dietary changes make a profound difference within one week.

Western Medicine’s Approach

Western medicine can offer antibiotic or antifungal medications in cases of bacterial and fungal infections in a lactating woman. These medications can be oral or topical. However, a common conundrum is that when a woman has a bacterial infection, the antibiotics that treat the infection often are the cause for a consequent fungal infection. In the absence of identifiable infection, lactation consultants will work with a nursing mother to identify possible causes of lactation pain, such as vasospasm of the areola, improper breastfeeding positioning, or poor latch-on by the infant. Remedies for these conditions may include warm compresses, dietary supplements, and of course correcting the infant’s latch.

What Can I Expect During a Session?

During the initial visit we discuss your medical history, your baby’s nursing history, take a careful look at your dietary habits, and perform a physical examination. The physical examination consists of checking your pulse on your wrists, looking at the tongue and performing diagnostic palpations around the abdomen and neck region. We may ask you to find the most painful area on your breast(s) yourself while we palpate other areas on your body with the intention of releasing the pain in your breasts. The palpations offer further insights into the exact nature of your situation. The breast itself is actually never needled. The resulting treatment plan consists of acupuncture, and we may suggest custom-tailored herbal medicine, nutritional changes, and stress reduction techniques.